You may not always be able to share the gospel with someone, but there’s an often overlooked opportunity to evangelize that’s so easy even a caveman can do it – invite people to church.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says there is a “mysterious element in the life of the Church. What is this? It is what our Lord was suggesting, I think, when He said, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst.’ It is not a mere gathering of people; Christ is present…There is something in the very atmosphere of Christian people meeting together to worship God and to listen to the preaching of the Gospel.
“I remember a woman who was a spiritist, and even a medium…She was sitting in her house and she saw people passing by on their way to the church where I happened to be ministering in South Wales. Something made her feel a desire to know what those people had, and so she decided to go to the service, and did so. She came ever afterwards until she died, and became a very fine Christian. One day I asked her what she had felt on that first visit, and this is what she said to me…She said, ‘The moment I entered your chapel and sat down on a seat amongst the people I was conscious of a power. I was conscious of the same sort of power as I was accustomed to in our spiritist meetings, but there was one big difference; I had a feeling that the power in your chapel was a clean power.’ The point I am making is simply this, that she was aware of a power. This is the mysterious element. It is the presence of the Spirit in the heart of God’s children, Gods people, and an outsider becomes aware of this.” – from Preaching and Preachers
A few years ago, a young Buddhist woman attended our church. As soon as we began to worship, she began weeping. The same thing happened two weeks ago to a Christian couple who came for the first time. I believe in both cases, they were experiencing the presence of Jesus.
So invite your friends to church. Invite your classmates and co-workers. Give your waiter a church invitation – and be sure to leave a generous tip.
photo by ninaL (Grazyna Letellier)
Hey Mark,
I love Martin Lloyd Jones, Spiritual Depression is one of my all time favorites.
I am really encouraged by your post today, at my new job I have had numerous opportunities to talk about Christ , and I have to say I have not taken full advantage of things yet, since I don’t know the people that well yet. I think though as you said, the simplicity of inviting someone to church is a great way for them to experience the power of Christ and to see Him at work. Not to be negligent of preaching the gospel to the unsaved people that we come in contact with each and every day but inviting them to church is a very non threatening way to share with them. I want to be more diligent about that in my new mission field!
I am so very thankful for you and for your prayers Mark, keep em’ coming!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Thanks Ron,
So glad to hear about your new job – who knows how many people you will be able to influence for the Lord. Thanks for your comments!
Mark
I am consistently encouraged by your posts on reaching out to the lost. Aware of the Commission Christ gave to us as His disciples, I want to never lose sight of it and am grateful to be ever provoked in this calling. There are so many other daily distractions and needs that can quickly crowd out this call God has given us (and truly, a privilege, too…to be apart of HIS work) that I am grateful for your oft repeated encouragements to “win the lost”.
There is an opp. to invite a neighbor to a game night our church is hosting tomorrow pm for the ladies. I want to invite her and haven’t taken the opportunity yet. I know you’ll pray if I ask you to that I would faithfullly follow through w/ an invitation and also that this woman would come and encounter God in some way by being among those who love Him.
Hey Briana,
Thanks again for your encouragement. I will pray that you’ll have boldness to invite your friend and that she will respond. Sounds like a great outreach.